How can I help?

May you be well
May you be happy
May you be free from
suffering and its causes
May you be free from danger
May you have mental happiness
May you have physical happiness
May you have all that you
want and need
May you have ease of
well being
May you have peace When we are confronted with suffering in the world we ask: How can I help? Whether it is a friend going through a difficult time, seeing a global event such as the famine in Africa, or the awareness of people in the community who don't have enough to eat or a place to live, we may feel overwhelmed and insignificant. What can I (little ole me, one person) do to help alleviate the suffering? You can begin on your meditation cushion and from that place choose the action you wish to take. Meditation on loving-kindness (Metta) opens our hearts to the suffering and then directs our wish for the relief of suffering toward ourselves first then toward others in ever widening circles. The examples above give you an idea of Metta Meditation. We wish these things for ourselves, then we open our hearts to others and wish they may benefit too.
After we do this meditation we are able to take action with a peaceful heart knowing we are doing our best to bring comfort and compassion to whatever circumstances that have touched our hearts. (Check out the book Loving-kindness by Sharon Salzberg)